Police briefs: Police arrest suspect trolling for young sex

Sheriff's investigators said they arrested a Santa Rosa man early Thursday after he allegedly came to Salinas thinking he would meet a 13-year-old girl for sex.

Bogdan Pavlov Trakov, 24, was taken into custody shortly before 2 a.m. in a business parking lot at 1570 Constitution Blvd., deputies said.

The case began when members of the sheriff's special enforcement and sexual assault units learned of a male advertising on an internet bulletin board for "high school, teen girls," deputies said.

Deputies made contact, posed as a 13-year-old girl from Salinas and determined the man's identity.

The suspect agreed to drive to Salinas, provide the "girl" with marijuana and go to a hotel to engage in sexual activity, deputies said.

When the suspect arrived at the agreed-upon location, he was arrested, deputies said.

PRUNEDALE

Man dies in collision on Highway 101

A 29-year-old Watsonville man died early Thursday after his car was sheared in half in a collision on Highway 101 in Prunedale.

The man, whose name wasn't released, was southbound near Mallory Canyon Road when he pulled into the median and turned left into the path of a northbound car carrying a driver and passenger.

The victim was thrown from his Honda Accord and pronounced dead at the scene of the 5:30 a.m. collision, said California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Robert Lehman.

The cause "looks like it was lack of attention to oncoming traffic," he said.

The two people in the other car, which was a Mitsubishi Eclipse, didn't have significant injuries. They suffered abrasions from seat belts and airbags, but were not taken to a hospital, Lehman said.

The driver of the Mitsubishi was identified as Miguel Martinez, 23, of Seaside.

SALINAS

Suspect arrested in hit-and-run

A driver was arrested after hitting a pedestrian in a parking lot and fleeing about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Police said Jose Lopez, 33, drove off after hitting a 23-year-old man walking in a parking lot at 352 Williams Road. The victim had head injuries, a broken arm and broken leg, police said.

The CHP spotted Lopez's car and pursued him until he crashed near Zabala and Old Stage roads, police said, where he was arrested after a brief struggle.

When the CHP and Salinas police were in the process of switching Lopez's handcuffs, he slipped away and was caught after a brief chase, police said.

Lopez was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of felony hit and run, evading police, resisting arrest and driving without a license.

The victim was airlifted to a San Jose hospital and is expected to survive, police said.

CARMEL VALLEY

Deputies arrest suspect in attack

Sheriff's deputies said they arrested a day laborer on Wednesday who allegedly attacked a Carmel Valley resident days earlier.

Joseph Ryan Bernstein, 24, of Carmel Valley was booked into Monterey County Jail on charges of battery with serious injury and mayhem, deputies said. The case was referred to the District Attorney's Office for prosecution.

David Nuno-Murguia of Trampa Canyon was attacked Sunday, the statement said. His assailant punched him, breaking his nose, and bit his ear. Nuno-Murguia was treated at a hospital for injuries, the statement said.

SALINAS

CHP identifies man who died in crash

An 87-year-old man who died in a two-car crash early Wednesday on Highway 101 at Espinosa Road was identified as Phillip Suares of Salinas.

The CHP said he died after colliding with a pickup when he tried to turn from northbound 101 onto Espinosa Road about 6:45 a.m.